Improvement in cotton-presses



I iii/Mg M25 7,42 712 I y p/M4 572 0% AM. PHOTO-THO. C0. ILY. (OSBORNE'SPROCESS) V NITE STATES JAMES A. DISBROV AND JAS. E. ORONK, OFPOUGHKEEPSIE, NEWV YORK,

ASSIGNORS TO J. A. D ISBROWV, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-PRE SSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. L279, dated February 2,1858.

' to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, inwhich-- Figure l is a vertical section of our improve ment, taken in theline 00 m, Fig. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, taken in theline 3 y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate 'corresponding parts in the twofigures.

This invention consists in a peculiar arrangement of drums, ropes, and afollower, as

hereinafter shown, whereby the sides of the press-box are protected fromlateral pressure while the material within it is being compressedthereby enabling us to dispense with the usual heavy and cumbersomepress-box and substitute a comparatively light one that willadvantageously admit of a novel means of applying power to the press.

The invention further consists in this means of applying power to thepress, whereby the press and its concomitant parts may be made verycompact and the machine as a whole rendered extremely simple.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct ourinvention, we will proceed to describe it.

A represents the press-box, which may be of the usual rectangular form,and attached to a square box, B, which serves as a base. The base or boxB may be made of heavier material than the press-box A, and it ismounted on wheels or rollers O, which are placed on an annular cast-ironway, D, attached to a bed, D. The way D has a cogged rim or annularrack, E, at its outer edge, the rim and way being cast in one piece, anda toothed wheel, F, gears into the rack E, said wheel being at one sideof the box B, and serving as a support to the same. The axis a of thetoothed wheel F has a pinion, I), placed on it, and this pinion gearsinto two wheels, G G, which are placed 011 the ends of parallel drums HH.

. I The drums H H are placed within the box or base B, just below thebottom I of the pressbox A, and to each drum H a series of ropes, J, areattached. The drums H H are placed at opposite sidesof the box B, andthe ropes J pass up through openings 0 at each side of the bottom I ofthe press-box, the ropes extending upward and passing over the top ofthe follower K, the ropes of the two drums being connected togetherabove the follower, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

L is a center pin or bolt, which passes through the center of the bed D,and through the center of a cross-piece, M, attached to the bottom ofthe box or base B, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

N is a pawl, which is pivoted to a bar, d, at one side of the base orbox B, said pawl catching between the teeth of wheel F, and allowing itto turn in one direction only. 0 is a bar or sweep attached to the boxor base B.

The operation is as follows: The horse or team is attached to the bar orsweep O, and

' the bed D is permanently secured to the flooring or ground. Thefollower K is removed from the press-box A, the top of which is open, bydisconnecting the upper ends of the ropes J. The press-box is thenfilled with the material to be compressed, the ropes J of each drumbeing at opposite sides of the material. The follower is then placedwithin the pressbox on the cotton, and the ropes J connected at theirupper ends over the follower K, as before. The box or base B andpress-box A are then rotated, the horse or team passing around on acircular walk or tread properly leveled, the machine being rotated inthe direction indicated by arrow 1. By the rotation of the machine thefollower K is de pressed or drawn down through the medium of the annularrack E, toothed wheel F, pinion b, toothed wheels G G, drums H H, andropes J. As the follower K descends, the material within the box A willof course be de pressed, and the ropes J will protect the sides of thebox from all lateral pressure, a snificient number of ropes being usedat each side of the press-box to effect this purpose. The ends of thebox being quite narrow compared with the sides, they are not subjectedto much lateral pressure, and consequently ropes are not required at theends. When the material is fully or sufliciently compressed, therotation of the machine is stopped, the pawl N retaining it. Thematerial is then bound, as usual, and removed from the box A, one sideof which is provided with a door, by opening which the bale may bereadily removed. The door is then closed, the follower K removed fromthe press-box, the press-box again filled, the follower replaced, andthe ropes J connected over it and the operation repeated.

By this improvement it will be seen that the machine may be made quitelight and much less cumbersome than usual, for as the ropes J preventthe press-box from being subjected to the usual lateral pressure,considerable friction will be avoided, and it will not require to bemade of heavy stuff, nor be so firmly braced as heretofore. The machine,therefore, is well adapted to be rotated, so that the power may beapplied to the follower in the manner shown and described, and by thismode of applying the power the machine as a whole may be included andoperated within a comparatively limited space.

WVe are aware that windlasses have been previously used and arranged invarious ways to operate the followers of presses; but we are not awarethat the windlasses, ropes, and followers have been so arranged that theropes could protect the press-box from lateral pressure while thesubstance within the box was being compressed. We do not claim,therefore, broadly, the employment or use of windlasses for operatingthe follower; but,

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The arrangement of the drums H H, ropes J, and follower K,substantially as shown and described, whereby the ropes are made toserve I the double function of lateral supports and as a means forconnecting the follower to the gearing or driving parts. a

2. Applying the power to the follower K, substantially as herein shownand describedto wit, by means of the rotating press-box A, and base B,annular rack E, gearing F I) G G, in connection with the drums H H andropes J, or their equivalents.

JAMES A. DISBROVV.

JAMES E. GRONK.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES H. RUGGLEs, O. K. OoRLIss.

